Many thought the matter was closed, but it appears things remain in limbo at the moment. Chicago Bears fans have cried foul for weeks, saying the team isn’t receiving two compensatory picks for assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who was recently hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their GM. However, a technicality in the NFL rulebook states the person must be the “head football decision-maker” in the building. Since Matt Ryan was given the job of president of football operations, he is considered that guy, despite repeatedly stating that Cunningham would run the show.
So basically, the Bears got screwed because of a job title.
GM Ryan Poles revealed he’d sent an appeal to the NFL through official channels, arguing that the spirit of the rule has been met. Cunningham is a minority candidate who was given direct control of the roster on his new team. That meets the requirements. As of now, the Bears haven’t heard back from the league. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune believes that time is coming. Based on the typical NFL schedule, the full draft order, including compensatory picks, will be set before the start of the new league year next week.
Poles believes the Bears deserve the extra picks. Cunningham said the same thing. As best I understand it, neither franchise believes there’s a great chance the league will shift its stance on the situation. The Bears can hold out hope though…
…We ought to know before long. The last three years, the league has announced the complete draft order and distribution of compensatory picks between March 8 and March 11.
Losing Ian Cunningham for nothing will hurt this year, especially.
Not only are the Bears light on salary cap space and draft capital, but they just lost starting center Drew Dalman to a surprise retirement. That opens yet another key roster spot they need to fill. Those two compensatory picks would be a massive help in their efforts to retool the roster. Right now, the general feeling is the NFL won’t shift its position. The league has a reputation for sticking close to the rulebook, even if it’s unreasonable in the public eye. It would be quite a departure if it reversed course and ruled in their favor.
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Much of this may center on the contract Ian Cunningham signed. If the language explicitly states that he is the organization’s head football decision-maker, that might be enough for the league to change its initial ruling. If the Bears get a favorable outcome, they suddenly have eight picks in this draft, including four in the first three rounds. That would give them ample opportunities to infuse the roster with more young talent. If it doesn’t? That might only make the Rooney Rule look even weaker, which is the opposite of what the NFL has wanted.
Everything will come into focus by early next week. Until then, all the Bears can do is conduct other important business. Don’t be surprised if some trades start happening soon as well.
